Barcelona has started talks about the rental of Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian is clearly of interest to Aston Villa, which, according to several Spanish journalists, has already contacted Barcelona to discuss a rental deal. At the Premier League club, Coutinho would be reunited with manager Steven Gerrard, with whom he still played at Liverpool.
Helena Condis Edo reports on Wednesday afternoon that Barcelona has started talks with Aston Villa about a lease. The journalist of, among others, the Spanish radio station Cope reports on Twitter that there is talk of a lease until the end of the current season. Catalan sports reporter Sara Esciu even knows that the rental transfer may already be settled ‘somewhere in the coming hours or days’. The reporting is confirmed by Barcelona watcher Gerard Romero.
?? Coutinho: El Barça está negociando con el Aston Villa la Cesien de @Phil_Coutinho. Fuentes de la negociación me cuentan que trabajan en el acuerdo para que se vaya a prestamo hasta final de temporada allí. Ctado and @deportescope @tjcope @partidazocope
— Helena Condis Edo (@HelenaCondis) January 5, 2022
At the end of December, Barcelona already indicated that they were optimistic about the interest in Coutinho. The Catalans are eager to get rid of the 29-year-old attacking midfielder and Sport revealed he has three options in England for this: Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur would not be unsympathetic to the arrival of the Brazilian. A fourth club has now been added with Aston Villa, although the latter’s interest seems to be the most concrete at the moment.
Coutinho is superfluous and, with a net salary of no less than fourteen million euros, puts a heavy burden on the budget. The annual reward for the South American is also a stumbling block, because no club will be able or willing to offer him the same. It is therefore likely that Coutinho will be rented out, with Barcelona possibly continuing to pay part of the salary.
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